Roku’s new streaming stick features a quad-core processor for $49.99

Roku has introduced the third generation of its low-cost streaming device, the Roku Streaming Stick, and at $49.99 it’s a deal worth taking a closer look at.

The new stick, which is up against steep competition from the Google Chromecast and Amazon’s Fire TV stick, features a quad-core processor.

The company has also announced a new way to use Roku’s mobile application for private listening.

A new mobile app update will allow Roku Streaming Stick owners to plug in their headphones into their smartphone, then push a button in the app to stream the audio from their program to their mobile device. Wireless headphones will also be supported.

Private listening was originally only available for the company’s model 3 and model 4 units. Users on those systems could plug a headphone into the accompanying remote control.

Roku says the new stick has 8 times the processing power and tops the likes of Google and Amazon sticks.

The last Roku Stick update was in 2014. The first stick was released in 2012.

Franklin Simmons is BusinessPundit's Tech Editor. His life is consumed with a love of augmented reality, mobility, and emerging technology. He extensively covers all areas of technology, including the computing, automotive, and healthcare sectors. He can be reached at Zen Student Loans